Location query service for wireless networks

Abstract

A location query service for use with a wireless network that tracks the location of network devices, such as a network complying with enhanced 911 standards. The service provides requesters with the locations of network users, based on the locations of the users' wireless network devices. The service receives a location query from a requester, retrieves location information associated with the network user, and returns the location information to the requestor. Alternately, before returning the location information to the requester, the service authenticates that the requestor is authorized by the network user to receive the network user's location information. A requestor can submit a location query, for example, by voice calls through the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to an interactive voice response unit (IVRU), personal computer access through a global computer network, and cellular telephone access through a global computer network.

1. A method for providing a location query service for use with a wireless network that tracks locations of network users, the method comprising:
 receiving from a requester a query asking for location information associated with a wireless network user; 
 determining whether the requestor is authorized to receive the requested location information and, if so, retrieving the location information associated with the wireless network user and forwarding the location information to the requestor; 
 if the requestor is unauthorized, determining whether the wireless network user will accept requests to release location information to unauthorized users; 
 if the requestor is unauthorized and the wireless network user is determined not to accept such requests, returning a message to the requestor that the request is denied; 
 if the requestor is unauthorized and the wireless network user is determined to accept such requests, forwarding to the wireless network user the requester identification and the request for the requestor to receive the location information; 
 if the wireless network user chooses not to release the requested location information to the unauthorized requestor, returning a message to the requestor that the request is denied; and 
 if the wireless network user chooses to release the requested location information to the unauthorized user, retrieving the location information associated with the wireless network user and forwarding the location information to the requester. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identification is one of a user name, a telephone number, an Internet address, and an email address. 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving and forwarding comprise communications over a global computer network. 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving and forwarding comprise communications over a Public Switched Telephone Network. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein retrieving the location information comprises identifying a wireless device associated with the wireless network user and determining a location of the wireless device. 
   
   
     6. The method  claim 1 , further comprising translating the location information from raw form to displayable form. 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein retrieving the location information comprises using a location system to determine the location of a network device associated with the wireless network user. 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein retrieving the location information comprises consulting a location database that is periodically updated by a location system. 
   
   
     9. Currently Amended) A system for providing a location query service with a wireless network in communication with a plurality of wireless network devices, the system comprising:
 a location system in communication with the wireless network, the location system providing location information associated with the plurality of wireless network devices; and 
 a location server in communication with the wireless network and a plurality of requesters, wherein the location server is operative:
 to determine whether the requestor is authorized to receive the requested location information associated with the network user and, if so, to retrieve the location information and forward that information to the requestor; 
 if the requester is unauthorized, to determine whether the network user will accept requests to release location information to unauthorized users; 
 if the requester is unauthorized and the network user is determined not to accept such requests, to return a message to the requestor that the request is denied; 
 if the requestor is unauthorized and the wireless network user is determined to accept such requests, to send the access request to the network user about whom the requestor seeks location information, so as to determine whether the network user chooses to release the location information to the requester 
 if the network user chooses not to release the requested location information to the unauthorized requestor, to return a message to the requestor that the request is denied; and 
 
 if the network user chooses to release the requested location information to the unauthorized user, to retrieve the network user's location information provided by the location system and to forward the location information to the requestor. 
 
   
   
     10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the location system is at least one of a handheld location system and a network-based location system. 
   
   
     11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the handheld location system is a global positioning system. 
   
   
     12. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the network-based location system is one of a Wireless Access Protocol location service and a triangulation system. 
   
   
     13. The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a mapping converter that translates the location information provided by the location system from raw form to displayable form. 
   
   
     14. The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a global computer network in communication with the location server and the plurality of requesters, wherein the global computer network facilitates communication between the location server and the plurality of requesters. 
   
   
     15. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the global computer network is the Internet. 
   
   
     16. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of requesters have requestor devices with messaging capabilities and the global computer network facilitates messaging between the location server and the requester devices. 
   
   
     17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the message capabilities are one of audio-based, text-based, and graphical. 
   
   
     18. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the global computer network includes a graphical user interface through which the plurality of requestors can submit location queries. 
   
   
     19. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the requestor devices are Wireless Access Protocol compatible thin clients having thin browsers adapted to access the global computer network and to communicate with the location server. 
   
   
     20. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the requestor devices are personal computers. 
   
   
     21. The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a Public Switched Telephone Network in communication with the location server and the plurality of requestors, wherein the Public Switched Telephone Network facilitates communication between the location server and the plurality of requesters. 
   
   
     22. The system of  claim 21 , wherein the Public Switched Telephone Network includes one of an interactive voice response unit and an automatic call distributor, through which the plurality of requestors can submit location queries.